Discharge device for tanks



. 1,619,054 March 1, 1927. M Q BLEST DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR TANKS FiledDec. 13. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j an) March :1, 1927.

M. C. BLEST' DISCHARGE- DEVICE yon nuns.

1-921 I v 2 Sheets-SheetZ Filed Dec. 13

I a. U i 1 2 in 7% 3 f 5 F (Jiumlar Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

MINOT C. BLES'I, Ol

BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PRESSED STEEL CAR COMPANY, OFPITTSBURGH, EENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEM JERSEY.

DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR TANKS.

I Application filed December 13,1921. Serial No. 522,076.

This invention relates to discharge devices for tanks and especially totanks for tank cars and has for an object the provision of a dischargedevice which is of simple construction, efficient and easily operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device fortank cars which will automatically compensate for any vertical saggingof the tank, or for any variation in the vertical diameter of the tankwhich may be produced by expansion of the tank, or by any other causeand will thus ensure the easy operation of the device at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device fortank cars in which the discharge valve plug, when in its closedposition, is not liable to be lifted from its seat through pressure frombelow the plug and further is not liable to be displaced by the movementof the car, vibration of the tank, or by the effect of the movement ofthe contents of the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device fortank cars which will, when the discharge valve is in open position,prevent the placing of the dome cap in its proper closed position andwhich will, whenthe valve is in closed position, permit of the placingof the dome cap in its proper closed position. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device fortank cars in which the discharge valve plug and the operating rodthereforare loosely connected together so that the plug can moverelative to the rod in such a manner as to prevent the plug from bindingon the component parts of the valve and also to ensure the properseating of the plug on the valve seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device fortank cars in which the discharge pipe is separate from the rest of thedischarge device and is Secured to the tank independently of any otherpart of the device so that in the event of the discharge pipe receivinga heavy blow or becoming broken, the valve will not be liable to becomedamaged. p

A further objectof theinvention is to provide a discharge device fortanks in which the valve is secured to the tank withoutthe use of boltsor rivets thus rendering it easy to remove and replace the valve when itbecomes necessary to clean, regrind the seat or the plug,or to apply anew valve.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description.

Fig. 1, is a plan view of a portion of a tank and the discharge valvedevice; Fig. 2, is a sectional view of the same taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3, is an enlarged composite view, the upper half beingaplan of the discharge valve and the lower half being a sectional viewtaken on the line 3"3 of Fig. 2 Fig. 4, is a sectional view taken on theline 44L of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is. an enlarged sectional view of the on theline 55 of Fig. 8 andQFig. 6-, is a sectional view taken on the line ti-6' of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the reference character 1indicates the tank which is preferably made of metal in the usual mannerand 2' indicates. the tank dome which is of the usual form and issecured to the tank in any preferred manner and in its top is providedwith an opening which is adapted to be closed by acap 3.

For the purpose of discharging the tank of its contents a dischargedevice 4 isprovided which comprises a valve 5, a rod 6, an operatinglever 7 and a discharge pipe 8. The valve 5 comprises a hollow valveseat member 9 and a plug 10 adapted tobe moved upwardly and downwardlyin the member 9. This member 9 preferably comprises'parts 11 and 12 thepart 11 being arranged exteriorly of the tank and secured thereto andthe part 12 being arranged interiorly of the tank and connected with thepart 11. through the medium of inter-engaging screw'threads formed inthe part 11 and discharge valve taken on the lower end portion of thepart 12,

thus rendering the removal or replacement of the part 12 easy. The parts11 and 12 instead of being made separate may if desired be madeintegral. The part 12cm tends above the part 11 and into the tank andatits upper end is provided with an outwardly extending flange 13 uponwhich a guide member 1a is secured by bolts or other suitable means.WVithin the part 12 a valve seat 15 is provided with which-the plug 10is adapted to engage to close the valve. This seat is so located that itwill be below the interior surface ofthe tank so that the contents ofthe tank may be entirely discharged through the apertures 16 formed inthe part 12 above the valve seat.

The valve plug 10 is provided with pertion 17 the outer surface of whichis adapted to engage the valve seat to close the valve and is furtherprovided with a vertically disposd annular flange 18 which is adapted tocontact with the interior surface of the part 12 and this flange, due tothe large surface it presents to the interior surface of the part 12,will when the valve is being operated prevent the plug from binding inthe part 12. The upper part of the portion 17 is provided with a recess19 which is substantially cup-shaped in which the lower end portion 20of the operating rod 6 is seated which portion is enlarged somewhat fromthe major portion of the rod and is semicircular in form. The rod andplug are held together by plurality members 21 which are secured to theportion 17 and engage the top of the portion 20, there being an opening22 formed by these members sutiicientl lar e to ierinit the rod 6 to)ass b therethrough and to permit a limited free movement of the plugrelative to the rod.

The rod 6 preferably comprises a lower part 23 and an upper part 24, theadjacent ends of which parts are screw threaded and are connectedtogether through the medium of a screw threaded coupling 25 which issecured against rotation relative to such parts by rivets or othersuitable means.

Above the enlarged portion of the part 23 a lug or projection 26 isprovided which is preferably integral with such part but which ifdesired may be made separate therefrom and secured thereto in anysuitable manner. This projection 26 extends outwardly from the part 23and is adapted to engage with a screw threaded member 27 adjustablymounted in a lug 23 which is preferably integral with the guide member14. This screw threaded member is preferably locked in adjusted positionby a nut 29 which is mounted on the member and engages thelug 28. Thetop of the lug 26 is provided with a flat surface 30 with which themember 27 is adapted to engage when the valve plug 10 is in closedposition and is also provided with a sloping surface with which suchmember may engage as the plug 10 is being closed. The top of this lugalso forms a seat for the lower end of a spring 31, the guide member 14forming a seat for the opposite end of such spring. This spring isadapted to force the plug 10 downwardly into contact with the'valve seatwhen the valve is being closed.

Above the sleeve 25 the upper part 24 of the rod 6 extends into the dome2 and adjacent its upper end is loosely mounted in a bracket or bearingmember 32 which is preferably secured to the dome. Above this bearingmember the upper end portion of the part 24 is provided with a lever 33which, intermediate its ends 34 and 35 is pivotally connected with suchpart by a pin 36 or other suitable means. The end portion 34 of thelever extends over, and is adapted to engage, a horizontal portion 37 ofthe bracket 32 while the opposite end portion 35 of the lever is adaptedto extend into the vertical plane of the opening in the dome 2 and atits end is provided with an upwardly projecting portion 33 which whenthe discharge valve is in open position will extend into the domeopening and will occupy some of the space normally occupied by the domecap 3 as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, and will thus preventthe application of such cap while the valve is in open position. Thisendportion of the lever is also provided with an operating handle 39 whichis pivotally connected therewith in such a manner that when the lever isnot being operatedv the handle will hang vertically from the'lever in aposition where it will not interfere with any loading apparatus whichmay be insertedthrough the opening in the dome. This end portion of thelever rests on and is supported by a bracket 40 which has verticallydisposed end portions 41 and 42 and a bottom portion 43 all of which arepreferably integral. These end portions at their upper ends arepreferably provided with flanges 44 which are secured to the top domesheet 45. The end portion 42, some distance above the bottom portion 43,is provided with a notch 46 which is adapted to receive a portion ofthelever 33 and support such lever as shown in dot and dash lines in Figs.1, 2 and 4 to hold the valve in open position. Adjacent the end portion41 the bottom portion 43 is provided with a recess 4.3 in which thelever is adapted to rest when the valve is in closed and locked positionand when the lever is properly seated in this recess it will beprevented from accidentally moving along the bottom portion 43. Abovethe bottom portion 43 of the bracket a guard member 47 is provided suchmember having a vertically disposed portion 43 and a horizontallydisposed portion 49. This portion 48 is provided with a flange 50 whichis preferably secured to the dome sheet 45 while the portion 49 extendsinto an opening formed in the end portion 41 of the bracket 40. The

portion 48 is spaced away from thecnd portion 42 of the bracket 40 asuiiicient distance to permit the lever 33 to move upwardly anddownwardly therebetween. The part 49 is spaced away from the bottomportion 43 of the bracket 40 a suiiicient distance to permit the lever33 to be movedhorizontally therebetween. It will be noted that thebracket 40 and the guard member 47 promoved vertically will preventundue horizontal movement of the lever.

Below thedischarge valve, a discharge pipe 8 is provided which issecured to the tank independent of any part of the" discharge valve sothat in the event of the discharge pipe becoming damaged the valve isnot liable to be disturbed.

The rod' 6 is made of a plurality of pieces to facilitate theapplication of the rod' to a tank and for the purpose oi adjusting theposition of several of the parts of the valve mechanism, as well as foradjusting V the length of the rod. It will be noted that when the rod 6is being applied to the tank the projection 26 on the part 23 may not bein. its proper operative position relative to the lever 33 which ismounted on the-part 24 and that the sleeve 25 will permit theturning ofone part of" the rod relative to the other whereby the positions of theprojection and the lever 33 may be properly adjusted relative to eachother. After the parts and 24 are in their proper adjusted positions thesleeve 25 is secured to them, by rivets or bolts,1,insuch a manner thatthey fornr in affecta continuous rod, and movement of one part relativetothe other will not be permitted.

Assuming thedischargevalve device tobe in closed position. as shown infull lines in the drawings and it is desired todischarge the contents ofa car equipped with this device the operation is as follows:the operatorgrasps'the handle39-a nd moves it from its inoperative verticallydepending position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to-its operativehorizontal position asshown in dotted lines in this figure and by theuse of this handle raises the lever 33 upwardly out of the notch L3andmoves the lever in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1;until the lever is in the position as indicated by the referencecharacter 51' at which time the lever is moved upwardly to a position asin dicated by the reference character 52 where it engages the notch 46as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. l andflby reason of suchengagement is held against accidental downward movement. As the lever 33is moved in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 theprojection 26 is moved in the same direction until the lever has beenmoved to the position as indicated by the reference character 51 atwhich time the projection 26 1s tree 01" the member 27, and as the lever1s moved upwardly toward the position as indicated by the referencecharacter 52 the end portion 34 of the lever engages the horizontalportion 37 ofthe bracket 32 which causes therod; 6' and plug 10'to moveupwardly from the valve seat 15 thus permit tin-gthe contents of thetan: to discharge through the openings 16 and discharge pipe. As thevalve plug 10 is movednpwardly the spring 31 is compressedihen the valveis in open positionthe projecting portion 33 of the lever 33eatend'sinto the dome open.- ing' and occupies some of the spaceoccupied by the dome cap 3'. Further when the valve has been movedtoopenposition the operator. releases his grip on-th'c' handle 39which per.-mits such handle to move by gravity to a verticallydepending positionunder the lever 33 wliereit is entirely free of the dome opening It willhere be noted that as the lever is moved out of the notch 43 and: alongthe bracket to the position indicated at 51' the end portion 34s of thelever does not engage the horizontal portion 37 of the bracketsuchengagement being prevented by the guard member t-akingplace when thelever is being moved from the position indicated at 51 to the positionindicated at 52, thuspreventing. undue strain on the projection 26 whileit is in engagement with the member 27". It will further be notedthat byproviding clearance between the-end portion 34 of the lever and thehorizontal portion 37 of the bracket 32 as well as between theendportion of. the lever and the guard member 47, the tank may sag or thevertical diameter of: the tank may change, Without interfering with: theoperation of the discharge valve device as .a whole.

When it is desired to close the valve the operator by the use of thehandle 39 raises the lever out of engagement with the notch 46 and movesthe lever downwardly, the spring 31 assisting which. causes the plug 10tomove downwardly into contact with the valve seat. The lever is thenmoved in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig.1, which causes the pro; jection 26 tomove into engagement with themember 27 to hold the plug 1 0 in close con tact with the valve seat.The projection 26 is provided with a wedge shaped portion 53 which whenthe valve is being closed: is

adapted to engage the member 2. and: force the plug 10 into closeengagement with the valve seat. i i

It will be apparent to those skilled: in the artto which this inventionappertains that changes may be made in the ar rangement and detail ofthe several parts of the invention without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as-new and desire tosecure by Letter sPatent is:

1. A discharge valve device for tanks com prising a valve'seat member, avalve plug, a rod for operating said plug, a projection on saidrod, andadjustable meansonsaid valve seat member adapted to be engaged by saidprojection to hold said valve plug in closed position. Y

2. 'A dischargevalve-for tanks-comprising H 4+, such engagement only avalve seat, a plug adapted to cooperate with said seat to open and closethe valve, a rod for operating said plug and adjustable means forholding said plug in close engagement with said seat when the valve isclosed, said means comprising a lug on said rod and an adjustable memberindependent of said rod.

3. In a discharge valve device for tanks, a discharge valve, a rotatablelever for rotating said valve, and a handle on said lever which when inoperative position extends beyond the end of said lever and When ininoperative position is wholly back of the end of said lever.

4. In a discharge device for tanks, a discharge valve, a lever forrotating said valve, and a handle loosely mounted on said rota-t ablelever and adapted to form an extension thereon when in operativeposition and adapted to move by gravity to inoperative position backor". the end of said lever.

5. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, means pivotally mounted onsaid rod for rotating and moving said rod vertically for operating saidvalve, and means for preventing vertical movement 01' the red as it isrotated.

6. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rotatable and vertically movablerod for operating said valve, a lever pivotally mounted on said rod foroperating it and means adapted to engage said lever to prevent verticalmovement of said rod as it is rotated.

7. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, a lever pivotally mounted onsaid rod for rotating and moving said rod longitudinally for operatingsaid valve, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said rodas it is rotated and rotary movement as it is being movedlongitudinally.

SIIn a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, a lever for rotating andmoving said rod longitudinally for operating said valve. a bracket forsaid lever and means associated with said bracket adapted to preventlongitudinal movement of said rod as it is. being rotated.

9. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, a lever for rotating andmoving said rod longitudinally for operating said valve, a bracket forsaid lever and means associated with said bracket adapted to preventlongitudinal'movement of said rod as it is being rotated and rotarymovement as it is being moved longitudinally.

10. Ina tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, a bearing member for saidrod, a lever for rotating and moving said rod v-ertically to operatesaid valve, said lever being adapted to engage said member to move saidrod vertically.

11. In a tank car, a discharge valve comprising a discharge valvemember, a rod for operating said valve, an adjustable member in saidvalve member, and a pro jection on said rod adapted to engage saidadjustable member to hold said valve closed.

12. In a tank car, a discharge valve comprising a valve seat member, aguide member secured to said valve seat member, a projection on saidguide member extending into said valve seat member, a member mounted onsaid projection, a rod for oper ating said valve'and movably mounted insaid guide member, and a projection on said shaft adapted to engage themember mounted' in the first mentioned projection to hold valve closed.

13. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod, a bearing member for saidrod, a lever for rotating and moving said rod vertically for operatingsaid valve, a guard member for said lever, said lever being out oiengagement with said guard member and bear ing member when the valve isclosed Where by vertical movement of the rod is prevented.

lt. In a tank car. a tank, a dome, a discharge valve in said tank, a rodrot-atably and vertically movable for operating said valve, a projectionon said rod movable therewith, means in said valve adapted to cooperatewith said projection to hold said valve elosecha lever located in saiddome for operating said rod, and means in said dome for preventingvertical movement of said rod when the projection on said rod is inengagement with the first mentioned means. 7

15. In a tank car, a discharge valve, a rod rotatably and verticallymovable for operating said valve, a lever for rotating said rod and formoving said rod vertically, and a member forming a fulcrum for saidlever when the rod is being moved vertically.

16. In a tank car, a tank, a valve seat member comprising a part secnredto said tank exteriorly thereof, a partconnected with the firstmentioned part and being Wholly within the tank, a valve seat in thelast mentioned part, a plug adapted to cooperate with said seat toretain the lading or permit it to be discharged, and a rod for operatingsaid plug, said rod being loosely connected with said plug, and means insaid valve seat member adapted to cooperate with said rod to hold saidplug in engagement with said seat.

17. In a tank car, a tank, a dome having an opening formed therein, acover for said opening, a discharge valve for said tank, a rotatable andvertically movable lever for operating said valve, means on said leveradapted to extend into said opening,.when the valve is open, and occupya portion of the space normally occupied by said cover when the valve isclosed. and means for supporting said lever whereby downward move mentof the lever and the application of said cover is prevented.

18. In a tank car, a tank, a dome having an opening formed therein, acover for said opening, a discharge valve for said tank, a rotatable andvertically movable lever for operating said valve, a portion of saidlever being adapted to extend into said opening when the valve is open,and means for supporting said lever When the valve is open, said portionand means being adapted to cooperate to prevent the application of saidcover to said dome when said valve is open.

19. In a tank car, a tank, a dome having an opening formed therein, acover foropening and closing said opening, a discharge valve for saidtank, a rotatable and longitudinally movable rod for operating saidvalve, and a lever pivotally connected With said rod for rotating saidrod and for moving it longitudinally, said lever being adapted toprevent the application of said cover to said dome When said valve is inits open position.

20. In a tank car, a tank, a dome having an opening formed therein, acover for opening and closing said opening, a discharge valve for saidtank, a rotatable and longitudinally movable rod for operating saidvalve, and a lever pivotally connected With said rod for rotating andmoving said rod longitudinally, said lever having an up Wardly extendingportion adapted to extend into said opening When said valve is open toprevent the application of said cover.

21. In a tank car, a tank, a dome having an opening formed therein, acover for opening and closing said opening, a discharge valve for saidtank, a rotatable and vertically movable rod for operating said valve,and a lever for rotating and moving said rod vertically, said leverintermediate its ends being pivotally connected with said rod.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MINOT C. BLEST.

